Begonia plant named ‘KRHAISU01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘KRHAISU01’ characterized by its broadly upright to spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; moderately freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; double-type male flowers that are pinkish apricot in color and held above and beyond the foliar plane; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia x hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KRHAISU01’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Koppe Royalty B.V. of Putten, The Netherlands on Nov. 23, 2021, application number 2021/3016. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia x hiemalis, commercially referred to as an Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KRHAISU01’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Begonia plants with excellent postproduction longevity and attractive flower color.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in March, 2014 of a proprietary selection of Begonia x tuberhybrida identified as code number KV14-3481-004, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia socotrana identified as code number S00, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands in May, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Ermelo, The Netherlands since August, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KRHAISU01’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KRHAISU01’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright to spreading and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Moderately freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Double-type male flowers that are pinkish apricot in color         and held above and beyond the foliar plane.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Begonia have pinkish apricot-colored flowers whereas plants of the female parent selection have salmon orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have double flowers whereas plants         of the male parent selection have single flowers.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have pinkish apricot-colored         flowers whereas plants of the male parent selection have         purplish pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia x hiemalis ‘Dark Netja’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Ermelo, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘Dark Netja’ in flower color as flowers of plants of the new Begonia are pinkish apricot in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Dark Netja’ are bright pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘KRHAISU01’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) are close up views of the upper (right) and lower (left) surfaces of typical leaves and flowers of ‘KRHAISU01’, and in the center of the photograph is a close-up view of typical flower buds.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Ermelo, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Begonia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 18° C. Plants were three months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia x hiemalis ‘KRHAISU01’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia x             tuberhybrida identified as code number KV14-3481-004, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             socotrana identified as code number S00, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About five weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white to orangish             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density; plants of             the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit and form.—Broadly upright to spreading and             mounded plant habit; overall plant shape, roughly globular.         -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate; suitable for 9-cm and larger containers; under             optimal environmental and cultural conditions, usually about             eleven weeks from rooted cuttings are required to produce             proportional plants in 13-cm containers.         -   Branching habit.—Moderately freely branching with about five             primary branches each with about two secondary branches             developing per plant.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 25.6             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 28.8             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 42.1 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 11.8 cm. Diameter: About             8 mm. Internode length: About 3.2 cm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Aspect: Erect to about 50° from vertical. Texture             and luster: Sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,             developing: Close to 146C to 146D. Color, developed: Close             to 146A. Lenticels: None observed on plants of the new             Begonia to date.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About             14.1 cm. Width: About 12.6 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate,             unequal. Apex: Acute to minutely apiculate. Base: Oblique,             lobes free and not imbricate. Margin: Serrate to dentate;             slightly to moderately undulate. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Mostly smooth, glabrous with             sparse pubescence along the veins; velvety; moderately             glossy. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves,             upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to a blend of 147B and 148B. Fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: Darker than a blend of 147A and             N189A; venation, close to 137A and 137B. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 191A; venation, close to             146A to 146B. Petioles: Length: About 6.4 cm. Diameter:             About 5.5 mm. Strength: Low, flexible. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; slightly             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to a blend of 146A and             148A moderately tinged with close to 182B; distally,             strongly tinged with close to 180A to 180B. Color, lower             surface: Close to a blend of 146A and 148A. Stipules:             Quantity and appearance: Two leafy stipules at the base of             each leaf. Length: About 8.5 mm. Width: About 8.5 mm. Shape:             Broadly ovate to roughly deltoid. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:             Broadly cuneate. Margin: Ciliate. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 145B; venation, close to 182B to 182C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Fully double-type male             rotate flowers arranged in axillary cymes; to date, female             flower development has not been observed on plants of the             new Begonia; typically about 13 flowers per cyme, numerous             cymes in flower simultaneously and about 600 flowers             developing per plant; flowers face upright to outwardly and             are positioned above and beyond the foliar plane.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             the spring into the autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 17.1 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11.7 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: Ranging from             about 1 cm to 2.1 cm. Shape: Roughly circular to reniform,             flattened. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             velvety; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 35C to 35D;             towards the base, close to 151D.         -   Male flowers.—Diameter: About 4.9 cm by 5.7 cm. Depth: About             2.5 cm. Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: About four             arranged in two whorls. Length, inner whorl tepals: About             2.7 cm. Length, outer whorl tepals: About 3.1 cm. Width,             inner whorl tepals: About 3 cm. Width, outer whorl tepals:             About 3.3 cm. Shape: Reniform to roughly orbicular. Apex:             Mostly rounded. Base, inner whorl tepals: Cuneate. Base,             outer whorl tepals: Truncate. Margin: Entire, not undulate.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety; not rugose; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; not rugose;             inner whorl tepals, matte and outer whorl tepals, slightly             glossy. Color, inner whorl tepals: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 18B; towards the margins and apex, close             to 31C and 31D and towards the base, close to 1C. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 18B and 19B; towards the             margins and apex, close to 24C. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 36B; towards the basal margins, close to 38A; at             the base, close to 154C to 154D; venation, close to 147D;             color does not change with subsequent development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 36B; towards the basal             margins, close to 38A; at the base, close to 154C to 154D;             venation, close to 147D; color does not change with             subsequent development. Color, outer whorl tepals: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 154D; towards the margins             and apex, close to 35D. When opening, lower surface: Close             to a blend of 150C and 154D; towards the margins and apex,             close to 35C to 35D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             154D; towards the margins and apex, close to 37C and 37D;             venation, close to 147D; color does not change with             subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 145D; towards the margins and apex, close to 38A and 38B;             venation, close to 147D; color does not change with             subsequent development. Tepaloids: Quantity and arrangement             per flower: Variable, about 17 per flower arranged in about             four whorls. Length: About 1.5 cm to 2.6 cm. Width: About             1.4 cm to 2.7 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; not rugose; matte.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly velvety; not rugose; matte. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 14D; towards the margins, close to             24C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 13D; towards the             margins, close to 24D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             36B; towards the basal margins, close to 38B and at the             base, close to 154C to 154D; venation, similar to lamina             color; color does not change with subsequent development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 37C to 37D and at the             base, close to 154C to 154D; venation, close to 146D; color             does not change with subsequent development.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Two positioned at             the top of the peduncle. Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: About             1.6 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to close to reniform. Apex:             Broadly and bluntly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin:             Ciliate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; slightly glossy.             Color, upper surface: Close to 144B; venation, close to             143A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B; venation, close             to 147B and distally slightly tinged with close to 182B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7.6 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30° from lateral             branch axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy. Color: Close to 146A and 146B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—To date, stamen and pistil development             have not been observed on plants of the new Begonia.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Begonia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, resistance to pathogens and     pests common to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of     the new Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘KRHAISU01’ as illustrated and described. 